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JustAnotherGen

(31,688 posts)
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 05:16 AM Sep 2015

John Lewis - 2014 Post Comparing Cornel to POTUS doesn't make sense to me

I wrote this Tuesday, August 26, 2014 http://www.democraticunderground.com/11878298.

My comments still stand. This was long before anyone declared they were running for the office of POTUS.

If Corny  is so right - why hasn't he ever run for office. He lived in Princeton. They haven't  elected a Republican Mayor in oh since . . .


He couldn't even run for Mayor of Princeton NJ?

Really?

I'd like to quote the wise and sage Stevie Wonder:


We would not care to wake up to the nightmare
That's becoming real life
But when mislead who knows a person's mind
Can turn as cold as ice
Why do you keep on making us hear your song
Tellin' us how you are changing right from wrong
'Cause if you really want to hear our views
"You haven't done nothin'
"

Understand - blacks aren't a monolith. Understand, some blacks such as myself think talk is cheap.  Unless you have the guts to run yourself - go to hell Corny. You have spoken, wrote, hell - even acted! What legislation did you see over the finsh line?

There are attempts to compare a writer/college professor/actor with POTUS. The better question to pose to me - because West had an 8 year head start in life over Obama - he had every opportunity to get off of his soapbox and get something passed into law somewhere -

Compare Contrast John Lewis' career as an activist and legislator to Cornel West's pretty words.


John Lewis didn't just 'march' or write books and lecture:



And he - 


And he also -


Now he says stuff like this -


And wow - he wants us to get on up and get in trouble!


And because of this -


And yeah - this -



I've got a feeling about who Lewis will be endorsing . . .
28 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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John Lewis - 2014 Post Comparing Cornel to POTUS doesn't make sense to me (Original Post) JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 OP
P.S. This also happened JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 #1
John Lewis is an amazing man, a real inspiration to us all nt steve2470 Sep 2015 #2
Yeah, our latest homework assignment. Well, I'm not doing it, don't care if I fail the class. betsuni Sep 2015 #3
Yeah and now I see someone has JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 #4
Who do you feel Lewis will be endorsing? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #5
Not speaking for Lewis, of course... OilemFirchen Sep 2015 #6
as far as primary goes he has already endorsed hillary JI7 Sep 2015 #7
He stated already JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 #9
Ah, so not really a feeling so much as evidence. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Sep 2015 #10
Let's wait and see JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 #11
Love him. Starry Messenger Sep 2015 #8
Love him too. sheshe2 Sep 2015 #17
Love that pic! Starry Messenger Sep 2015 #27
John Lewis is a hero. Drunken Irishman Sep 2015 #12
Well, Dr. West is good at what he does Chitown Kev Sep 2015 #13
Cornel West burned all his bridges BumRushDaShow Sep 2015 #14
According to the DU PTB, anyone that doesn't support Cornell's trashing of black academics Number23 Sep 2015 #15
See - I think they think he's JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 #20
Yeah, well the "really black" person is making a ton of pale, new friends trashing his own people Number23 Sep 2015 #24
Amen JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 #25
"(And the fact that Bill and Hillary are two different people just seems to only confuse them.)" Cha Sep 2015 #22
Beautiful thread, Gen.. Mahalo for John Lewis. All cornel west has been doing for the last 7 years Cha Sep 2015 #16
I sure hope... sheshe2 Sep 2015 #18
Of course, she.. Cha Sep 2015 #21
Ha! sheshe2 Sep 2015 #23
Beautiful Op~ sheshe2 Sep 2015 #19
Thanks, JAG for posting this . . . brush Sep 2015 #26
Kicking this up JustAnotherGen Jul 2020 #28

betsuni

(25,138 posts)
3. Yeah, our latest homework assignment. Well, I'm not doing it, don't care if I fail the class.
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 06:22 AM
Sep 2015

Something about legion detractors and comparing stances, I don't even know.

JustAnotherGen

(31,688 posts)
4. Yeah and now I see someone has
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 06:51 AM
Sep 2015

14% of the African American vote . . . But not me.

I intend to be DEFIANT.

ETA - I'm wondering if there will be a standardized test on all this?

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
5. Who do you feel Lewis will be endorsing?
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 07:21 AM
Sep 2015

I mean, I don't expect he'll be endorsing either West or Obama, since neither is running.

But among the candidates, which of them is known to have actually gotten out and marched, even if he or she didn't get beaten up while doing it? Which of them has run for and held office for decades, working themselves up from a mayor?

Are those the sorts of criteria you think Lewis will base his endorsement on - who has been an 'activist and legislator' like Lewis himself? Or is your feeling based on something else not brought up in the OP?

OilemFirchen

(7,143 posts)
6. Not speaking for Lewis, of course...
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 08:54 AM
Sep 2015

but it's likely he'll endorse whichever candidate can actually see progressive legislation pass despite an utterly intransigent Congress.


BTW... to the AA Group hosts: You have the patience of Job. Bless you.

JI7

(89,182 posts)
7. as far as primary goes he has already endorsed hillary
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 09:12 AM
Sep 2015

He endorsed her in 2008 also but switched to Obama after Obama won his state.

Erich Bloodaxe BSN

(14,733 posts)
10. Ah, so not really a feeling so much as evidence.
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 09:38 AM
Sep 2015

He decided to back her back before anyone even knew who else would run against her.

Sounds more like supporting a friend than basing a decision on standards such as actions taken.

JustAnotherGen

(31,688 posts)
11. Let's wait and see
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 09:45 AM
Sep 2015

I think I'm not the only O'Malley supporter that won't scream and shriek when he endorses Clinton.

We know he's gonna do it.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
8. Love him.
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 09:21 AM
Sep 2015


John Lewis at Comic Con, he decided to cosplay in what he wore that famous day on Pettus bridge and lead children in a march. I've got something in my eye...

Chitown Kev

(2,197 posts)
13. Well, Dr. West is good at what he does
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 12:17 PM
Sep 2015

I don't think that he needs to get within the system to make a difference.

But as far as I have been able to tell, he doesn't apply a LOT of pressure outside of the system, either (i.e. Rev. Barber). For the most part, Dr. West just bitches.

He's neither John Lewis NOR Bertrand Russell.

BumRushDaShow

(127,330 posts)
14. Cornel West burned all his bridges
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 06:12 PM
Sep 2015

and is among several within a generation of activist/scholars who are grasping for relevance in this very (technologically) different world. Barbara Reynolds is another, with some heavy amnesia going on with some rose-colored glass views of the past.

Even 40+ year civil rights activist/talk host Joe Madison has wondered aloud multiple times, about what has happened to West. And Madison has had West on his show for interviews, book tours, and even having him on to discuss his treatment for prostate cancer that almost took him (when Madison had to undergo treatment himself). Madison has been around for a long time and had participated in scores of marches and protests, as well as having hosted dozens of workshops, town halls, and other events so he knows and worked with all the biggies in the community.

The tactics of the racists haven't really changed but the methods for exchange of info between and among the new and upcoming civil rights community has, and the gap is staggering when it comes to the previous generation understanding what the new generation is doing. There are some who, although they know we are all in a relay race of life, refuse to give up the baton, and in doing such, end up de facto sabotaging forward progress in the movement.

This doesn't mean that guidance can't be given as there are those like Lewis noted above, who can and have proffered some historical context to what happened "back then" and what is happening now. But there are those out there who have difficulty keeping their ego in check and seem to prefer to do anything they can to feed the addictive craving that they have for that highly intoxicating megaphone. They find that "negative attention" can be a net gain for them (although in reality, only in the short term) and operate from the "it's better to ask forgiveness than permission" school of thought...

Number23

(24,544 posts)
15. According to the DU PTB, anyone that doesn't support Cornell's trashing of black academics
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 08:10 PM
Sep 2015

and politicians because he's pissed his little corner of the Ivory Tower got dim as hell once Obama came on the scene are just haters.

These same 'quality' posters also claim that no one black could or should support Hillary because of all of the evil that Bill did to the black community. As I've mentioned before, for all Bill's flaws as a president, he opened up this country's economy to black folks in a way that had NEVER been done before. Black folks had jobs like never before under Clinton's presidency which is Reason #1 that so many black folks still loved and respected him, until he put his foot in his mouth campaigning for his wife.

(And the fact that Bill and Hillary are two different people just seems to only confuse them.)

People keep trying to wave Cornell around to be some divisive figure but he's not. The vast majority of black people loathe him. The only folks who keep touting him are primarily white people because he can say things about this president that they'd love to but can't because it doesn't jibe with their self-imposed ideals of being "liberals". Really nothing else more to it.

JustAnotherGen

(31,688 posts)
20. See - I think they think he's
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 09:14 PM
Sep 2015

Really black. You and me - we aren't.


We hold less value. Probably had that AHA moment early in life. Yet . . .

Number23

(24,544 posts)
24. Yeah, well the "really black" person is making a ton of pale, new friends trashing his own people
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 09:26 PM
Sep 2015

So if that's the route that he and his new friends want to go, they have my blessing. Godspeed to them all.

Cha

(295,929 posts)
22. "(And the fact that Bill and Hillary are two different people just seems to only confuse them.)"
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 09:21 PM
Sep 2015

smh.

Cha

(295,929 posts)
16. Beautiful thread, Gen.. Mahalo for John Lewis. All cornel west has been doing for the last 7 years
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 08:22 PM
Sep 2015

is spewing hate on our President.

"The Rise and Fall of Cornel West" by Michael Eric Dyson..

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/121550/cornel-wests-rise-fall-our-most-exciting-black-scholar-ghost

Melissa Harris-Perry on Cornel West
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026899166

Slurs cornel has hurled at the President..

“Rockefeller Republican in blackface.”
“brown-faced Clinton.”
"Kenny G in brown skin.”
"a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs"
"a black puppet of corporate plutocrats."
"a niggerized black person."


http://www.thenation.com/blog/160725/cornel-west-v-barack-obama#

Cali http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=575906

sheshe2

(83,355 posts)
18. I sure hope...
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 08:55 PM
Sep 2015

You put west's name in lower case and John Lewis in uppercase as a sign of disrespect vs respect. He deserves it.

Cha. I'm back.

Cha

(295,929 posts)
21. Of course, she..
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 09:19 PM
Sep 2015

I can't bear to write someone's name in upper case that I loathe as much as cw.. for ignorantly dissing our President with such vile ugliness. That all started with "bush".

I see that! I gotta go run now.

sheshe2

(83,355 posts)
19. Beautiful Op~
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 09:03 PM
Sep 2015

Thank you JAG!

John Lewis is a hero.

While still a young man, John Lewis became a nationally recognized leader. By 1963, he was dubbed one of the Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. At the age of 23, he was an architect of and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963.

In 1964, John Lewis coordinated SNCC efforts to organize voter registration drives and community action programs during the Mississippi Freedom Summer. The following year, Lewis helped spearhead one of the most seminal moments of the Civil Rights Movement. Hosea Williams, another notable Civil Rights leader, and John Lewis led over 600 peaceful, orderly protestors across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965. They intended to march from Selma to Montgomery to demonstrate the need for voting rights in the state. The marchers were attacked by Alabama state troopers in a brutal confrontation that became known as "Bloody Sunday." News broadcasts and photographs revealing the senseless cruelty of the segregated South helped hasten the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Despite more than 40 arrests, physical attacks and serious injuries, John Lewis remained a devoted advocate of the philosophy of nonviolence. After leaving SNCC in 1966, he continued his commitment to the Civil Rights Movement as Associate Director of the Field Foundation and his participation in the Southern Regional Council's voter registration programs. Lewis went on to become the Director of the Voter Education Project (VEP). Under his leadership, the VEP transformed the nation's political climate by adding nearly four million minorities to the voter rolls.

In 1977, John Lewis was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to direct more than 250,000 volunteers of ACTION, the federal volunteer agency.

In 1981, he was elected to the Atlanta City Council. While serving on the Council, he was an advocate for ethics in government and neighborhood preservation. He was elected to Congress in November 1986 and has served as U.S. Representative of Georgia's Fifth Congressional District since then. He is Senior Chief Deputy Whip for the Democratic Party in leadership in the House, a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, a member of its Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, and Ranking Member of its Subcommittee on Oversight.


Read More http://johnlewis.house.gov/john-lewis/biography

brush

(53,475 posts)
26. Thanks, JAG for posting this . . .
Mon Sep 14, 2015, 10:07 PM
Sep 2015

Maybe some of the uninformed Sanders supporters who are backing Cornell West will see this.

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